Trainer kites. Glorified umbrellas or serious light wind use?

I am considering kiting, starting with water kiting, in light winds (12-15 knts). I weigh 85 kg.

I am a bit confused because the hype surrounding this sport, often driven by the personal preferences of an adrenaline-and-speed driven young public as well as by the vested interests of manufacturers, seems to yield very different and often conflicting information about recommended sizes: NO LESS than 10 mt for some ( and possibly even up to 12, 15, even 17 m in the very same wind conditions) , while others speak of puny 3.5 m to 6 m trainer kites..

How can a 3.5 m trainer kite be compared to a 10 m (or more ) kite?I always thought that a 3.5 m trainer kite would be little more than an umbrella in light winds, soon to be discarded for any serious kiting as soon as you master the basics, but it seems that some people are using them for regular kiting and have fun.. I am confused!

All I want is to have fun pulling a 11 ft Windsup in light wind and I would go for the smallest possible size allowing me to cruise around in light winds.If I can use a 6m kite or even a smaller trainer kite it would be safer, easier to handle (and cheaper).

Can anybody tell me what should I expect REALLY from a 6 m kite ( or even a 3.5 ) in these light winds conditions? Do they have enough power to pull me? Good control? If I am to take the bull by the horn, would a 10 m regular LEI do? Thanks

Francone

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Gazuki said..
Turn the kite upside down, if it hovers it will be enough to fly. Remember its always better to be over powered.

??????Upside down? I don't know if you want to be facetious, but how can it hover upside down?

Francone

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windywander said..
Hi

With an inflatable kite, after you have pumped it up, if you hold it from the middle (where you clip the pump leash on) will fly upside down. Not truly fly like you could use it that way, but if it does not fly when in this position there is not enough wind.

I know some people are very skilled at light wind flying but it seems to me like your target wind range will be hard to learn in, perhaps consider learning in decent wind, maybe 15 to 20 knots so you are not spending the whole time keeping kite in the air.

I have kited on a large surfboard in light wind and it is not as exciting as you seem to think it might be. If its that light just SUP for now, and get a couple lessons and you will have a much better idea of how various size kites fly in different winds.

Good luck and enjoy.

Thanks for explaining, but even if the kite may well hover by holding it upside down, I'm afraid that if it is too small, like a 3.5 or even a 6 mt training kite it may still not have enough power to fly me and the windsup .This would be the real test .

If you say that it won't be worthwhile to attempt SUP kiting in less than 15 knts , I begin to think that the best bet in these winds is to go for at least a 10 m kite. It may be more than sufficient. Forget about smaller kites ( training or other).

I must say that with my windsup, unlike the typical planing shortboards, I can already sail with as little as 12-15 knts, which is not infrequent here. It won't plane, but I still enyoy it ..

It would be interesting to know if with a 10 m kite I can move faster in 15 knts winds. than with the Windsup. .. I would think so, because of the buoyancy and the weight of the Windsup, once relieved of the weight of the rig..Experience will tell, but if anybody has comments, let me know

Thanks

Francone

Some kites are built very light - single strut, hardly any reinforcing dacron, with the idea of travelling light for overseas destinations, or for light wind use, like foiling. Get one of those.

My 11m Naish Pivot is built tough to last - it barely flies in 15 knots of wind. Pulling sup by kite sounds very unexciting, you may get bored very quickly, but everyone to their own

I was out yesterday on my hydrofoil using a 3.5m BRM Cloud C.5 in 20kts. Small kites aren't toys even though they may look like it. As a beginner though, you may find an ultra small kite too demanding to use as they are fast and need to be sined quickly to generate power in all but the strongest winds. I would think a 5m to 7m single strut kite like a North Mono or LF Solo would suit SUP kiting.

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Rails said..
Francine forgot to mention he weighs 180 odd keggers

I am not too sure what keggers stand for ..Almost the same consonants as Kg, but I don't weigh 180 kg, only 180 lbs, just to be precise.